They came, as it seemed, for the cutter was flying back to us under sail and oars; and before she reached us, the first Danish ships were clear of the Swanage headlands, making for the offing.  Then I got my ships into line abreast, and Thord worked up Odda’s five alongside us to seaward; and all the while the Danish sails hove into sight in no sort of order, and seeming so sure that none but friends could be afloat that they paid no heed to us.

Soon there were full a hundred vessels of all sorts off Swanage point, and the cutter brought word that there were but twenty more.  Then I ran up my fighting flag, and everywhere along our line rose a great cheering as we hoisted sail and sped down on the foe.  It was long since the seas had borne a fleet whence the Saxon war cry rang.

The leading Danes were ahead of us as we gathered way, and their long line straggled right athwart our course.  We should strike their midmost ships; and at last they saw what was coming, and heard the din of war horns and men’s voices that came down wind to them, and there were confusion and clamour on their decks, and voices seemed to call for order that did not come.

Then one or two longships from among them struck sail and cleared for action, and on these swooped Alfred’s great ships.  Odda’s crashed upon and sank the first she met, and plunged and shook herself free from the wreck, and sought another.  And beyond her the same was being wrought; and cheers and cries were strangely mixed where those high bows went forward unfaltering.

Now a ship crowded with men was before me.  As we boarded, her crew were yet half armed, and struggling to reach the weapon chests through the press, even while our dragon head was splintering the gunwale; and I leaped on board her, with my men after me and Harek beside me.

Then sword Helmbiter was let loose for the first time since Sigurd wielded her; and though a great and terrible cry came from over the water as one of Alfred’s ships sank another Dane, I could look no more, for there was stern fighting before me.

What a sword that was!  Hardly could my arm feel the weight of it as it swung in perfect balance, and yet I knew the weight it had as it fell.  Helm and mail seemed as nought before the keen edge, and the shields flew in twain as it touched them.

Forward I went, and aft went Harek the scald, and there was soon an end.  The Danes went overboard, swimming or sinking, as their fate might be, and only the slain bided before us.  The ship was ours, and I looked round to see what should be next.  No other ship had come to help our prey.

Then I saw a wonderful sight.  Panic terror had fallen on the Danes, and not one ship of all that great fleet was not flying down the wind without thought of fighting.  Among them went our vessels, great and small, each doing her work well; and the Saxon shouts were full of victory.

So we must after them, and once more we boarded a longship, and had the victory; and then we were off the haven mouth, and with the flood tide the wind was coming up in gusts from the southeast that seemed to bode angry weather.  By that time no two Danish ships were in company, and the tide was setting them out to sea.